Alright, everyone. I'm back. One thing I'd like to see are reviews with feedback on the last few chapters, and predictions for who the actual villain is here. Not only that, but there's a bonus game. I'd like to see who'll be the first to spot the mystery reference in the first few sentences of this chapter. I'll be responding to reviews as I'm made aware of them, and with that, let's get back in the game.
I had just finished putting down the last of the guards as General Reynolds entered his key code to the research lab door. "Sir, what uniform is that coat a part of?" I gestured to the brown leather trenchcoat he had slung across himself.
"Who said it was part of a uniform? In case you haven't forgotten, we're going AWOL and committing minor treason to save a society of ponies." I had to reregister the information in my head. I had never dreamed of abandoning my job, but after a single day in Equestria I was ready to risk everything for them. It was like they had placed some sort of spell on me. I paused for a second, considering the prospect. No way. I'd learned how to judge character, and nopony I'd met seemed like the espionage type. "Hey, Carr! You remember how to work this thing?" I was jerked from my memories and took off running toward the center of the empty lab.
"I'll never forget, sir." I entered a button sequence and a green screen came up with two simple words sprawled across the foreground.
'Enter Coordinates'
"Will do. Here we go..." I entered six digit numbers for each required axis and gripped the handle on the top of the machine. "You ready, sir?" I looked up to the barrel of a gun in my face.
"You're damn straight I'm ready. Come on out, boys." Seven Green Berets appeared from around the room. I took a look around and saw two snipers rappel down from the rafters.
"Quite the spread, Reynolds. I think my favorite part is the pellet gun, though." He gave a nasty grin.
"Took you almost six seconds. You're getting old."
"Not really. I knew what you had on you the second the bulge in your pocket didn't set off the metal detectors on the way in. I was just optimistic enough to not kill you until I found out. I won't be making that mistake a second time."
"And what makes you think that there's going to be a second time?" I closed my eyes, preparing my body for the ridiculous pain that was about to hit.
"You're not holding the machine." His eyes bulged, but the fear faded just as quickly when he took a look at my clothing.
"And you're not wearing the stabilizers. Using that thing will break every bone in your core."
"Sucks to be me, then, doesn't it?" He leapt for the other handle, but I kicked him away and smashed the startup button. My arms began vibrating violently and dozens of bullets swished past my head. "See you in hell, Reynolds." I felt my entire body jerk violently and everything went black.
"Hey, are you alive in there?" I knew that voice. I knew the material underneath me, and I knew that stupid beeping. "Come on, the doc said you'd be fine and that weird jacket you were wearing saved your ribs. Wake up."
"How you doing, Dashie?" She grinned as my eyes slowly, but the grin wasn't returned. "We've got a lot to do. Who else is here?" Six more ponies came into view above me. I recognized three of them: Rarity, Twilight, and Celestia. "Care to introduce me to your friends?" The orange one with a cute little cowboy hat stepped forward and spoke in one of the best country accents I'd ever heard.
"Howdy there. Mah name's Applejack." A solid pink one with a poofy mane knocked Applejack out of the way and grabbed my hand to shake it vigorously. Her voice was squeaky and not unlike that of a kindergartener.
"Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie!" She was promptly lifted away from me by Twilight's magic and replaced by a yellow pony with a cotton candy mane and sky blue eyes. She must have spoken, but I couldn't hear her.
"Sorry. I'm used to bullets going off everywhere. Try that again." Her voice was audible this time, but she shied away as soon as she'd spoken.
"My name is Fluttershy." I nodded to each of them.
"My name is Don Carr. In case you don't already know, I'm a human from a distant land called Earth. Unfortunately, my people aren't the most agreeable sort and we're going through a bit of a land and energy crisis right now. I'm the only link between our worlds, and so they tried to get me to give them the universal coordinates for this world." Twilight cocked her head.
"Why is that unfortunate? We'd gladly help them however we can." I sighed in embarrassment.
"Part of the human mindset is that nothing comes free unless you take it. Only a few people believe in the prospect of charity, and those few aren't the ones in charge. When they come – and they will come – we're going to have to show them that they can't just take Equestria for themselves." There was silence as they all contemplated the prospect. "Don't worry, though. I'm not trying to brag, but you couldn't have a picked a better human to have on your side through something like this. Things like this happen all the time throughout our history, and I've got an idea on how to prevent it. But I'm gonna need some raw materials and a few helpers who aren't afraid to fight." They all looked between each other and nodded back to me. Celestia stepped forward and spoke in that kind yet commanding voice.
"What do you need from us?" I looked down across my bed.
"For starters, how about my gear and some clothes?" Rarity's eyes burst open and a smile coursed across her face.
